PET imaging agent to spot lung inflammation and transplant rejection
PET Tracer for Imaging of Lung Inflammation
A new PET scan tracer called 68Ga-Galuminox that aims to highlight lung inflammation and early signs of rejection in people who have had lung transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11097165 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would receive a PET scan using a new tracer (68Ga-Galuminox) designed to light up inflammatory cells in the lung. Researchers compare tracer uptake in people with chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) to those without CLAD and to preclinical models. The scans may be correlated with clinical exams, standard imaging, and biopsy results when available. The project builds on animal and preliminary human data suggesting higher tracer uptake in affected lungs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who have received a lung transplant, especially those with suspected or early signs of chronic lung allograft dysfunction or unexplained lung inflammation, would be the best candidates.
Not a fit: People without transplanted lungs or whose breathing problems are not driven by inflammatory or rejection processes are unlikely to get direct benefit from this tracer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a noninvasive way to detect transplant-related lung inflammation earlier and reduce reliance on repeated invasive biopsies.
How similar studies have performed: General PET inflammation imaging (for example with FDG) has been used before but can lack specificity, and this tracer is a novel agent with promising preclinical and early human signals.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sharma, Vijay — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Sharma, Vijay
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.